Delivery
From DigitalRhetoricCollaborative
Delivery is the canon of rhetoric that involves verbal and nonverbal ways of conveying a message in the context of a specific situation. Proper use of delivery will improve credibility by showing that the speaker has taken the views of their audience into consideration. Having well polished delivery will also make your intended audience more inclined to acknowledge your message, and act on that message. While delivery enhances ethos and pathos, logos is utilized in the canons of style and invention, and is not impacted by delivery. When crafting your message it is important to take into account both the verbal and nonverbal cues and how your audience will interpret them.
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[edit] Artifact Analysis
The above video is an excerpt from former president Ronald Reagan’s 1987 Berlin Wall speech, on the 750th anniversary of Berlin’s founding. In it he urges Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall that had separated the city for decades, while also appealing to the West to aid in uniting Berlin.
[edit] Verbal Cues
When delivering verbally, the audience hears not only the words that are being said, carefully selected with the canon of style, but also how the words are said. Use of emotion in the tone of delivery is essential in appealing to pathos. A speaker who delivers an emotionally powerful message in a monotonous tone will not be as successful as one who effectively shows emotion in their tone and rate of speaking. Additionally, ethos is present in delivery through the effective use of pauses and through powerful speech. A timid speaker is less credible, as it appears the speaker is not familiar with their topic. A strong, confident speaker conveys confidence that the speaker is familiar with the topic they are speaking on. We see many examples of these points in Reagan's speech. Although the former President speaks strongly when appealing to Gorbachev, much of the earlier parts of the speech are in a friendlier, but not overly conversational tone to let his audience know he’s sympathetic to their cause. He also speaks slowly so that both his immediate and international audience can clearly understand him, as many of them have a limited understanding of English. This also leads him to use more universally understood words like Gorbachev and Berlin.
[edit] Non-verbal Cues
Sometimes it is not what you say, but how you say it. A key concept in delivery includes the non-verbal techniques used to increase the effectiveness of the oral delivery. In the video above former president Ronald Reagan gives his speech in front of the berlin wall. Not only does he have the credibility to speak on this issue, being the president of the United States at this time, Reagan also sends a message just by traveling to the location; instead of just speaking from the white house, he shows that this is a serious issue and that he has the confidence to be a leader for change. He appears to be dressed in a suit and tie due to the formality of the occasion. His body language seems to be just right for the situation as he stands tall and stiff, but still is able to seem open hearted due to the tone of his voice. He makes eye contact with the audience, pausing at the right times for emphasis and applause, and enunciates his words. Reagan is also able to use different inflections at appropriate times as well as match his speed with his emotions; he speaks in both moderate and slow speeds to convey a message of power, pity, and narration. Additionally, because his audience includes many who do not understand English, Reagan has to use his body language more than usual, especially when he says “Tear down this wall”.
[edit] Additional Resources
Burton, Gideon O. "Delivery." Silva Rhetoricae. Brigham Young University, n.d. Web. 02 May 2015. http://rhetoric.byu.edu/canons/Delivery.htm
Gaines, Robert N. "An Introduction to Rhetorical Delivery." Arsrhetorica.net. 1 Jan. 1998. Web. http://www.arsrhetorica.net/gaines/delivery.html
Porter, James E. "Recovering Delivery for Digital Rhetoric and Human-Computer Interaction." Genre 27 (2008): n. pag. Web. http://daln.osu.edu/bitstream/handle/2374.DALN/54/porter_digitaldelivery.pdf?sequence=7
[edit] References
"Reagan - Tear Down This Wall." YouTube. YouTube, 3 July 2007. Web. 14 Apr. 2015. link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjWDrTXMgF8
"Delivering the Speech." Writingcommons.org. 1 May 2015. Web. 2 May 2015. <http://writingcommons.org/open-text/genres/public-speaking/delivering-the-speech>.
McKay, Brett, and Kate McKay. "Classical Rhetoric 101: The Five Canons of Rhetoric – Delivery." Weblog post. The Art of Manliness. N.p., 4 May 2011. Web. 14 Apr. 2015.
